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August 16

ZeroSpace

I've been listening to KidneyThieves' ZeroSpace over and over again, and I can't figure out what it's about. Any ideas? Black Carrot (talk)

Owen Wilson STP Radio Advertisement Voiceover

This is not earth-shaking, but I'd really like to know. I live in the midwest United States and listen to AM talk radio. Over the past six to eight weeks I've heard an advertisement for an engine oil additive (STP) that appears to be voiced primarilly by the writer/actor Owen Wilson. I know that everybody needs to keep the pool heated, but is it really him?Chief41074 (talk) 02:36, 16 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Unidentified musical instrument

While watching the Promenade Concert last night (Sat, 15th Aug) I was unable to identify an instrument that was part of the orchestral ensemble. It looked like a very large mandolin, rounded, oval belly about 2 feet long. The neck was about six inches across and about 4 to 5 feet long and seemed to be box shaped in section. It appeared to have maybe 10 or twelve strings. No, not a sitar, bigger than a sitar with a more oval belly. Any suggestions or info please. Richard Avery (talk) 09:55, 16 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Not an archlute, by any chance? If not there are a bunch of links down the right hand side of that page which might lead you to the instrument you saw. --Richardrj ^talk ^email 10:40, 16 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

It looks like the work was the ballet Orpheus by Igor Stravinsky. I've looked in vain for full details of the intrumentation. If anyone knows, maybe they can advise us. -- JackofOz (talk) 13:05, 16 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I don't know how to interpret the notation, but according to this place selling the score, the work is scored for "2.picc.2(II=corA).2.2-4.2.2.0-timp-harp-strings". Doesn't look like there's any mandolin-like instrument in there to me, though. Deor (talk) 14:13, 16 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Theorbo? Deor (talk) 14:06, 16 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

The prom broadcast on BBC 2 last night was the one performed on 12/8 (number 36), a program of Handel. So there's no mystery about it being that very lovely thing, a theorbo. William Avery (talk) 16:36, 16 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Ah, I failed to mention I was watching BBC1. so why is there no mystery? Richard Avery (talk) 20:00, 16 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Huh? Proms are only broadcast on BBC2, not BBC1. --Richardrj ^talk ^email 21:23, 16 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, of course they are, it was BBC2, thanks Rich. Richard Avery (talk) 07:11, 17 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

soothing music without lyrics?

i am looking for a few pieces of soothing music without lyrics that can help me concentrate on my homework. now i have spring of life and winter story by eric chiryoku and a piece from okami by rei kondoh. but i need more pieces of music, can download for free in mp3 form, 1-3 minutes. p.s. i am chinese, with interest in japanese culture, so chinese or japanese music is very welcome. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 59.189.62.122 (talk) 14:24, 16 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Try Pandora (music service). As you listen to and rate music, if offers more is the same genres. Try some Tangerine Dream, Steve Roach or Redshift. You may even like syncretic music such as Coyote Oldman (American Indian/Japanese) or the Afro Celt Sound System (Irish/and West African). ---— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk 14:33, 16 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I recommend "white noise", rather than music, for optimal concentration. Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots 14:46, 16 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

pandora is only for americans. :( but i will try to find the music you mentioned elsewhere. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 59.189.62.122 (talk) 15:03, 16 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Check out some Shamisen music on YouTube. There's a very popular Shamisen song that I hear a lot, but I have no idea what the name of it is. Who then was a gentleman? (talk) 19:30, 16 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

How about the Gymnopédies? Adam Bishop (talk) 16:39, 16 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

An electric fan will provide white noise, and I would think you could get those anywhere. Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots 17:21, 16 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Does music really help one concentrate? I have tried writing with and without. If "with", then I'm mostly unaware of the music while I write. Pepso2 (talk) 19:41, 16 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Richard Williams (animator) tells this story in The Animator's Survival Kit ("Lesson One"):

Like many artists, I had the habit of listening to classical music or jazz while working. On one of my first visits to Milt Kahl I innocently asked:

"Milt, do you ever listen to classical music while you're working?"

"Of all the s-s-s-stupid god-god-god-damned questions I-I-I-I've ever heard! I-I-I-I never heard such a-a-a-f-f-f-f-stupid question!

"Iy-iy-iy-iy-I'm not smart enough to think of more than one thing at a time!"

...After this I learnt to face the silence and think before swirling my pencil around. My animation improved right away."

But if I were to suggest something, it might be Bach's Two– and Three-Part Inventions, or the works of Outback (band), both of which I find stimulating yet not intrusive. —Tamfang (talk) 14:58, 17 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I know of some who believe that Gregorian chant is very useful for concentration. Googlemeister (talk) 16:43, 17 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

For me, it's the Bach Cello suites, preferably as played by Yo-yo Ma. --jpgordon^{::==( o )} 00:13, 19 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I use Brian Eno's ambient albums a lot when I'm painting or writing (e.g., Ambient 4: On Land). It definitely helps me concentrate on my work - if there's no music I'm 'listening to the silence' rather than concentrating on what I'm doing, and far more easily distracted by stray sounds. Harold Budd's albums are also very good for this, especially The White Arcades. There are a huge number of ambient music albums that are very effective as background music for working. Grutness...wha? 01:56, 19 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Dead silence will allow any stray sound to distract. Hence the value of white noise. Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots 02:12, 19 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Theme of Love and Evoking the Dawn from Echoes of Betrayal, Light of Redemption are quite calming. HalfShadow 03:12, 19 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]